Light-weight snug-fitting smooth-interior flexible composite cemented shoe



Nov. 21, 1961 G. H. NACHT 3,009,270

LIGHT-WEIGHT SNUG-FITTING SMOOTH-INTERIOR FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE CEMENTED SHOE Filed Jan. 22, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 6% a BY 1 v I I/ I 1 Q I I I ATTORNEY Nov. 21, 1961 G. H. NACHT LIGHT-WEIGHT SNUG-FITTING SMOOTH-INTERIOR FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE CEMENTED suoz:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22. 1959 IIIIIIA IIIII INVENTOR ATTORN United States Patent Q 3,009,270 LIGHT-WEIGHT SNUG-FITTING SMOOTH-INTE- RIOR FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE CEMENTED SHOE George H. Nacht, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Shoe Corporation of America, Columbus, Ohio, :1 corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 788,423 2 Claims. (Cl. 3628) This invention relates to footwear, and particularly to footwear of modern attractive artistic design, of relatively lightweight and of substantial inherent strength and durability.

The invention relates specifically to the inner or insole construction of footwear in order to provide a comfortable and durable article.

Footwear has been produced of various types and qualities of materials and constructions lacking in aesthetic appearance or other qualities due to the nature of the material employed or the manner in which they are used.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the difliculties enumerated and to provide highly desirable and satisfactory footwear of high heeled rigid shank construction and with an insole provided with a stiffener and cushion, the parts united by cement into a unitary structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a durable attractive lightweight high heeled shoe of maximum comfort with built-in flexibility in certain areas and stiffness in others resulting in a shoe to give maximum satisfaction to the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoe of relatively simple inexpensive construction which can be sold at a moderate price and therefore can be used by the maximum number of people.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe of improved appearance, lightness, flexibility and durability and in which the shank area is relatively strong although narrow and the shoe snug-fitting, as well as a shoe in which the upper is lined and the inner sole is of layers tapered at its margin to a thin edge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an article of footwear illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2, a perspective of the several parts of an inner sole in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3, a perspective of the parts of FIG. 2 assembled;

FIG. 4, a longitudinal section through the shoe; and

FIG. 5, a transverse section on line 55 of FIG. 4.

Briefly stated, the present invention is a high heeled shoe of rigid shank construction with an insole of three parts and a cover over the forepart and shank areas and combined into a unitary structure by cement. The basic layer of the insole is a relatively thin, tough, highly flexible sheet of a non-woven relatively dense composition impervious to moisture.

Beneath this basic layer is an underlying stiffener of fiber board which adds rigidity to the shank of the shoe. This stiffener has its margin reduced to a thin edge to avoid excessive bulk and resulting pressure in the shank or instep area.

Upon the basic layer is an overlying cushioning pad likewise tapered to a thin edge along its margin to decrease bulk and excess pressure, a cover being applied over the forepart and shank portion and having its edges folded around the edges of the other parts, a unitary structure is obtained by fastening the parts together by latex cement.

The remainder of the shoe is constructed in the usual manner and after the sole and heel are attached and the last removed, an additional rubber pad or cushion is in- "ice serted in the heel of the shoe to fill any cavities which might exist from the manufacturing process and to increase comfort. A relatively long heel cushioning pad is applied to cover the smaller pad or cushion in the heel of the shoe, such relatively long heel pad being of a length to extend forwardly into the shank so that it covers the shank and the joint between the shank and the heel area, and contributes its part in provision of a shoe having a soft smooth interior from heel to toe.

With continued reference to the drawings, the shoe of the present invention has a sole 10, a heel 11, a composite insole l2 and an upper 13. The shoe has a heel cushion 14, a liner composed of a forward portion 15 smooth to the foot, and a rear portion 16 having a non-slip surface.

The insole is composed of a non-woven composition sheet 17, cut to the shape of the foot. This sheet 17 is of a relatively dense, tough, highly flexible waterproof substance which will withstand multiple flexing during the wearing of the shoe.

In order to provide a relatively stiif shank and heel portion beneath the insole 17 a stiffener 18 of a fiber board or the like is added. It is of a length corresponding to the combined length of the heel and the shank.

For comfort a soft cushion 19 of a size and configuration corresponding to that of the insole is placed on the insole and the bottom edge of the underlying stiffener and the top edge of the overlying cushion are tapered to a thin marginal edge thereby avoiding excess thickness and pressure on the foot.

Over the forward and shank portion of the insole is applied a relatively thin insole cover 20 cut and split to the desired thickness and turned over the edge of the insole. This insole cover may be of a chrome tan sheep hide which presents a non-slip soft feeling to the bottom of the foot. Such chrome tan sheep skin being cut and split to the desired thinness in order that the turning of the material over the edge of the insole along both the shank and the forepart will not be too bulky and cause discomfort to the wearer.

The insole, stiffener, cushion, and cover, are united into a unitary structure by latex cement or other adhesive sprayed or otherwise applied to the contacting portions or the bottom surface of the insole and the top surface of the underlying stiffener, and on the top surface of the insole and the bottom surface of the cushioning member. Adhesive is applied to the bottom surface of the cover, the covered top surface of the forepart, and shank of the insole with the cushion member thereon, to the upper surface of which cushion member the adhesive has been applied.

Cement is applied to the bottom surface of the insole substantially over the forepart and shank and then the cover is applied and pressed thereto to eliminate wrinkles and the edges of the cover are turned over the edge of the insole and the parts pressed firmly together. The insole is then tacked to the last on which the shoe is fabricated, and the upper of soft pliable leather is lined with special soft mellow tan sheep vamp lining.

The forepart of the shoe is lasted and the shank staple lasted in order to provide a rigid shank consrtuction with a flexible forepart. After these parts are united, all tacks are removed from the forepart. The shoe is then completed in the conventional manner, the sole and heel being attached, the last removed, the rubber pad or cushion 14 inserted in the heel of the shoe to make the shoe comfortable and to compensate for cavities that might have been produced in the fabrication and attaching of the heel to the soft insole. A relatively long heel pad 21 is applied, such pad extending from the rear of the heel to the shank area and covering the connections on the insole in the heel area and providing with the liner a soft interior throughout the shoe from heel to toe.

Thus a shoe is produced in which the parts are held together by cement notwithstanding the fact that the shoe has a high heel and a rigid shank and a covering for the forepart and shank area is applied and smoothed during the application so that there are no wrinkles.

it will be apparent from the foregoing that the shoe of the present invention is easy to produce, has a high heel with a relatively stiff shank and an insole stiffener, a cushion for the insole and a cover which are held together as a unit by cement with other parts of the shoe of generally conventional construction. Also it is relatively simple and can be readily manufactured with conventional equipment. Also the shoe is of attractive appearance, of light weight, fits snugly on the foot but is comfortable to wear.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A light Weight snug fitting shoe having an inner I sole of relatively thin flexible light weight composition, a relatively flat stiiiener of compressed fiber underlying the heel and shank of the inner sole and having its margin tapered to an edge of reduced thickness to avoid excessive bulk and tendency of the material to wrinkle, an overlying cushioning sheet having the top surface of its marginal edge tapered, a cover sheet of a length corresponding to the forward and shank portions of said inner sole and cushioning sheet and having its edges folded around the edges thereof, said inner sole underlying said cushioning and cover sheets and with the parts united by nonhardening cement, an upper attached to said inner sole, an outer sole underlying said inner sole and attached to said upper, a heel supporting said outer sole, and a heel cushion covering the margin of the cover sheet adjacent to the heel and forming with the cover sheet a smooth interior from the heel to the toe of the shoe.

2. In a shoe having an upper and sole, a unitary insole assembly, said assembly comprising a member of relatively thin, light weight, flexible composition, having heel and shank portions, a stiffener underlying the heel and shank portions of said member and adhesively bonded thereto, said stiffener being of a size and configuration corresponding to the heel and shank portions of said memher and with its marginal area tapered to an edge of reduced thickness, an overlying cushioning sheet of a size and configuration corresponding to that of said member, said member being adhesively bonded its entire length to said cushioning sheet, and a cover sheet over said cushioning sheet and having its edges folded around the edges of the fore and shank positions thereof only, said cover sheet being adhesively bonded its entire length to said cushioning sheet, said upper having its lower edges adhesively connected to the under side of the shank and fore portions of the unitary insole assembly by folding the edges of said upper around and under the marginal area of the fore and shank portions, said sole being adhesively connected to the lower surface of the turned under edges of said upper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,197 Gustin Oct. 23, 1917 1,265,774 Gustin May 14, 1918 1,327,091 Egerton Jan. 6, 1920 1,350,965 Gaeto ...r Aug. 24, 1920 1,944,314 Brandt Jan. 23, 1934 2,027,072 Tweedie Jan. 7, 1936 2,457,082 Fennessy Dec. 21, 1948 2,565,662 McMahon Aug. 28, 1951 2,784,502 Morali Mar. 12 1957 

